Salt Creek

Salt Creek is in the southern portion of Canyonlands National Park, and is the only perennial water source for miles around. Therefore, it has been a natural choice for Native American habitation for millenia.

Until 1998, vehicular traffic was allowed along and beside the creekbed in the middle fork of Salt Creek, but because of environmental damage caused by the traffic (sometimes up to 100 vehicles per day), the area was closed to all but hiker or horseback traffic. This ruling was contested by the Utah county where the creek is located and by 4 wheel drive organizations, but the final decision has been to keep vehicles out of the area.
We visited by foot several times between 1999 and 2002.

Angel Arch, one of the best known arches in Utah, is located about 8 miles from the trailhead.

All American Man is one of many Fremont pictographs found near the creek.

It is located in an alcove above the ruins of a dwelling and dates to 1250 BC. Apparently it was painted on top of rock art that is at least 1000 years older. You can see what appear to be handprints around the figure.
Here is what I call the "Smiley Face" pictograph, my favorite.

I can just imagine a youngster painting this above his home, including the entire family in his drawing.
On one trip, we were caught in a thunderstorm late in the day and sought shelter in a large overhang in the Rincon area. It even had a handy rock shelf for cooking.

The next morning's light revealed an ancient pictograph that had stood guard above our sleeping bags. This appears to be of the Barrier design, probably up 3000 to 5000 years old. We haven't seen this rock art described anywhere. Because we found it almost by accident, not many people may know it's there. I call this one "Batman". If you enlarge and look carefully, you'll see a design to Batman's left, and other areas with red pigment that may be what is left of additional ancient art.

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